After a solid win on the Pakenham Synthetic three weeks back, Greg Eurell's Toronado (IRE) filly Sassy Salitage was heavily backed to keep her record perfect at Moonee Valley on Saturday and she did it in the style of a filly with a future.
Ben Allen parked Sassy Salitage on the outside of the leader Lady Lupino before kicking clear turning for home to win by one and a quarter lengths from last season's Group II VRC Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) winner La Tene (Helmet) with the Group III SAJC Breeders Stakes winner Kooweerup (More Than Ready) the same distance back in third. (image Grant Courtney )
"To come from Pakenham to here and do what she did today against this sort of field was an enormous effort," Eurell told AAP.
"It was always going to be a huge test for her today.
"She's still very new and still got a lot to learn, as we saw in the run.
"I certainly think, experience-wise, she will benefit a lot from today, but she has shown us good ability at home and I really liked her win at Pakenham.
"It's always a big leap when you come to town and she was tackling a couple of Group winners.
"It was a good step up and I said to the owners we will know where we sit after this race, going forward."
The daughter of Toronado (IRE) is likely to make her next start in the Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley in a fortnight and she also holds a nomination for the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 12.
Sassy Salitage is the second foal and second winner for the Fastnet Rock mare Kid Gloves.
Her first foal was the diminutive though highly talented Equiano filly Lady Horseowner who had a decision over Crossing the Abbey and Oohood in the Group III Blue Diamond Preview but was ultimately retired with a record of two wins from six starts and was recently sold to Aquis Farm for $230,000 at the Inglis Chairman's Sale.
A full-sister to Sassy Salitage was consigned by Noorilim Park to this year's Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling where she was knocked down to Kym Hann Racing / Pinhook Bloodstock International (FBAA) for $110,000.
Not served in 2017, Kid Gloves was covered by More Than Ready (USA) last spring.
Sassy Salitage's sire Toronado (IRE) returned to Swettenham Stud this year where his fee has been set at $27,500.
